Dr. Cristina Gonzalez receives AAMC New Investigator Award

In November 2019, Cristina Gonzalez, M.D., traveled to the Association of American Medical Colleges’ “Learn Serve Lead” meeting in Phoenix, AZ to accept its 2018 New Investigator Award. The honor, which is offered by the AAMC’s Research in Medical Education Committee, touts her paper, “How to Make or Break Implicit Bias Instruction: Implications for Curriculum Development.” The award included publication in a November 2018 online supplement to the journal Academic Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez, who is associate professor of medicine and a 2004 Einstein graduate, is an activist in the fight against health disparities. These preventable differences in the burden borne by disadvantaged populations in terms of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health, stem in part from care disparities that happen for many reasons, among them clinicians’ racial and ethnic implicit bias—their subconscious, unintentional assumptions about other people.

Dr. Irene Blanco Receives Hispanic Health Leadership Award

The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) awarded Irene Blanco, M.D., the Hispanic Leadership Award at the 16th Annual Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Gala, held Friday, November 15, 2019, at the Westin New York Grand Central. Dr. Blanco, an associate dean for Office of Diversity Enhancement and associate professor of medicine (rheumatology), was among four awardees recognized for their vision and inspirational leadership in improving healthcare in their organization. Dr. Blanco was also recognized for her support of marginalized groups' entrance into the medical field to address the needs of the Bronx community's most vulnerable patients. Hispanics are the largest ethnic group in the United States, yet, there is a dearth of Hispanic health professionals with cultural and linguistic skills to deliver quality care for this growing population. In addition, Federal, State, local government and private sector healthcare agencies have minimal Hispanic representation in top leadership positions, who can develop policies and programs targeted to the Hispanic community. NHHF, the philanthropic arm of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), is responding to these challenges by developing this unique national scholarship program to reward students in health professional schools for exceptional academic performance, leadership, and commitment to serving the Hispanic community.

Dr. Theresa Madaline Named Rising Star Among Healthcare Providers Under 40 and Top 25 Emerging Leaders of 2019

Theresa Madaline, M.D., was selected as Rising Star among 66 leaders in healthcare under 40 by Becker’s Healthcare. Dr. Madaline is Montefiore’s Hospital Epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine (infectious diseases) at Montefiore. At the forefront of Montefiore Health System's infection protection and control efforts, Dr. Madaline is the youngest physician to hold the hospital epidemiologist position. The 66 honorees have achieved executive positions at hospitals and health systems across the country, founded companies and reached prominence within their organizations. Several are entrepreneurs and thought leaders in advancing patient outcomes and care management. Read more.

Dr. Madaline was also named among the top 25 Emerging Leaders of 2019 by ModernHealthcare. The Top 25 Emerging Leaders program (previously Up & Comers) honors rising young stars in the healthcare management field. These young executives are under 40 and have made significant contributions in the areas of healthcare administration, management or policy. The Top 25 Emerging Leaders have made their mark and are poised to guide the future of healthcare.

2019 Physician Leadership Program

Lauren Shapiro, M.D., and Eric Epstein, M.D., were selected for the 2019 cohort of Montefiore’s Physician Leadership Program. This two-year program, which meets every two months, convenes physician leaders from across the Montefiore Health System together with an interdisciplinary faculty team of internal and external leaders and experts using a variety of learning methods. The program is designed to provide Montefiore’s physician leaders with the knowledge, skills, and relationship building opportunities needed to enhance their effectiveness in current and future roles. Learners gain self-knowledge and develop an authentic, transformational leadership style; develop the business skills to lead in the new world of healthcare; and build effective partnerships and long-lasting relationships throughout Montefiore. Dr. Shapiro is assistant professor of medicine (general internal medicine) and director of the Moses-Weiler Internal Medicine Residency program; Dr. Epstein is associate professor of medicine (endocrinology), director of DOM faculty practice, and interim-chief, division of pulmonary medicine.

Dr. Michele Mokryzycki Named Chair of Vascular Access Task Force

Michele Mokryzycki, M.D., was named Chair of the Vascular Access Task Force of the Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety (NTDS), a nationwide project of the American Society of Nephrology, funded by the CDC, to engage nephrologists to play a lead in reducing preventable infections in dialysis facilities. As task force chair, Dr. Mokryzycki, a professor of medicine (nephrology), works closely with the CDC, the ASN leadership, and other members of the workgroup on projects aimed at improving strict antiseptic technique and adherence with the CDC’s core interventions for dialysis catheter and arteriovenous fistula care. The workgroup has created a web-based catheter chairside audit tool, and will begin a pilot study to evaluate feasibility and obtain feedback from patients and staff. Another important goal of the NTDS is to raise awareness and share best practices with the renal community. To this end, the workgroup recently completed a review on “Prevention of Blood Stream Infections in Patient’s Undergoing Hemodialysis,” which will be published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, and is currently working on an invited review of “Buttonhole cannulation of arteriovenous fistulas in the United States” for the open access journal Kidney360.

Dr. Michal Malamed Wins Distinguished Mentor Award

The American Society of Nephrology has awarded Michal Melamed, M.D., the 2019 Distinguished Mentor Award. The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the kidney community through the mentorship and development of other clinicians or researchers, and inspires trainees to pursue nephrology and become leaders in the transformation of healthcare through innovations in research, education, and practice. Dr. Melamed is associate professor in the departments of medicine (nephrology) and epidemiology & population health.

Dr. Sheira Shleir Elected President of Leo M. Davidoff Society

Sheira Shleir, M.D., M.S., was elected President of the Leo. M. Davidoff Society. Dr. Shlair is associate professor of medicine (general internal medicine) and co-director, Introduction to Clinical Medicine Program, Einstein’s R.L. Gottesman Clinical Skills Center.

Presentations

Simon Spivack, M.D., M.P.H., was selected to present "D9, Lung Cancer Risk Assessment: Clinical Models X Molecular Biomarkers" at The American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2020 International Conference, which will be held May 15-20, 2020 in Philadelphia. Dr. Spivack and colleagues were selected to present "Lung Epithelium Whole Transcriptome Signatures That Reflect Incident Lung Cancer Case-Control Status" at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Conference, in Barcelona, September 2019. Dr. Spivack is professor in the departments of medicine (pulmonary medicine), epidemiology & population health, and genetics.

Ali Sadoughi, M.D., was invited presenter at the CHEST conference, held in October, in New Orleans. Dr. Sadoughi and his colleagues presented “Small Size Lung Nodules with Irregular Border are Better Caught in Peripheral Airway Bronchoscopy” and “A Case of Severe Post Intubation Tracheal Stenosis: Breathing Through a Straw.” Dr. Sadoughi is an assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary medicine) and director of Interventional Pulmonology and Bronchoscopy at Montefiore.

CRTP Training Program: MS in Clinical Research Methods

Congratulations to the seven Department Medicine faculty and fellows for being selected to the Clinical Research Training Program.

Ashley Cerniceros, M.D., M.P.H. (infectious diseases)
Alejandra London Jiminez, M.D. (fellow, rheumatology)
Eric Lontchi Yimagou, Ph.D., M.P.H. (endocrinology)
Omar Saeed, M.D. (cardiology)
Benjamin Hayes, M.D., M.S.W., M.P.H. (fellow, general internal medicine)
Chrisanna Dobrowolski, M.D. (fellow, rheumatology)
Shudan Wang, M.D. (rheumatology)

Congratulations to the Graduates!

Mirnova Ceide, M.D., departments of medicine (geriatrics) and behavioral sciences.
Thesis: Apathy and incident cognitive disorder in community dwelling older adults
Mentor: Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S; Gary Kennedy, M.D.

Jen-Ting Chen, M.D., department of medicine (critical care medicine)
Thesis: The use of physiologic assessment in the first 24 hours of fluid resuscitation for hypotension and hospital outcomes. Mentor: Michelle Gong, M.D.

Jules Chyten-Brennan, DO, department of medicine (general internal medicine).
Thesis: HIVE Care Continuum Outcomes Among Transgender People in Clinical Care. Mentor: Chinazo Cunningham

Tiffany Lu, M.D., department of edicine (general internal medicine).
Thesis: Cannabis use is not associated with bnuprenoprhine treatment retention. Mentor: Chinazo Cunningham, M.D., M.S.

Deepika Slawek, M.D., department of medicine (general internal medicine)
Thesis: Frequent cannabis use is associated with HIV rival load suppression in people living with HIV who use cocaine. Mentor: Chinazo Cunningham, M.D., M.S. Congratulations to Dr. Chinazo Cunningham — named Mentor of the Year!